Sr Officer Safeguarding (H/F)
Qualifications:
- Location: Ouagadougou
- Vacancy No: JR00000939
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: IRC International Rescue Committee
- Deadline: November 15, 2025
Brief details:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
In Burkina Faso, the IRC began its operations in April 2019 in Djibo with an emergency WASH/EHS response, and has since progressively expanded its programs to include protection, health, nutrition, economic recovery and development, as well as community participation and accountability initiatives. The IRC works alongside affected populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities to improve access to essential services, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
The IRC has a main office in Ouagadougou and operational sites in Ouahigouya (Yaadga), Dori (Liptako), Fada N’Gourma (Gourma), as well as an advanced site in Séguénéga (Yaadga).
To strengthen its team, IRC Burkina is recruiting a Senior Safeguarding Officer for the Ouagadougou office.
The IRC promotes a respectful, inclusive work environment that adheres to humanitarian principles (humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence) and safeguarding and accountability standards.
JOB OBJECTIVES/MAIN RESPONSIBILITY
Under the direct supervision of the Senior People and Culture Coordinator, the Senior Safeguarding Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of the safeguarding strategy within the organizational environment and in the implementation of the Burkina Faso country program projects.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
- Promote a strong understanding of IRC values and a culture of integrity, work with others to support training and communication on the IRC Code of Conduct (IRC Methodology) and safeguarding;
- With the support of the Senior P&C Coordinator, support leadership and senior management to strengthen their commitment to supporting safeguarding initiatives;
- Coordinate safeguarding capacity building and mobilize staff, partners, volunteers and other stakeholders to attend safeguarding training including PEAS through formal and informal refresher sessions, discussions, case studies, quizzes, etc.;
- Organize and facilitate safeguard induction for newly recruited staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners;
- With the support of the P&C Coordinator Sr, support the adoption and integration of IRC minimum safeguard standards into the work of all IRC program and operations departments through cross-functional safeguard integration, use of safeguard tools and quarterly review of minimum standards with each department head;
- Under the leadership of the Program Director and in close collaboration with Project Managers, conduct safeguard risk analyses for projects, identify associated mitigation measures and ensure their consideration in planning, budgeting and implementation;
- Facilitate and support the work of safeguarding focal points by ensuring their reinforcement and regular support, as well as the monitoring and reporting of their activities;
- Supporting the Partnership Lead to meet the standards related to secure partnership by ensuring the integration of safeguards into the Partner Capacity Assessment (PCA) and supporting IRC partners in strengthening their safeguard systems;
- Take the lead on all IRC safeguard due diligence exercises requested by donors such as PSEA assessments required by UN agencies or others in collaboration with the regional safeguard advisor and the Grant team;
- Raise awareness among clients and develop any initiative aimed at community engagement and a better understanding of staff behaviour expectations by IRC clients and communities;
- Facilitate the translation of safeguard documents into local dialects; produce communication tools and direct the dissemination of the IEC documents produced;
- Promote a reporting culture and support the functioning of complaint management mechanisms according to IRC feedback and safeguard SOPs in collaboration with the MEAL department;
- Ensure the updating and implementation of backup incident response SOPs in collaboration with the protection and health teams to provide quality services to backup survivors or make the necessary referrals to available services in the service mapping;
- Actively participate in humanitarian coordination mechanisms including the PSEA network;
- Contribute to the collection of Success Stories on Sauvegarde interventions while ensuring compliance with procedures (including free and informed consent, security guidelines, etc.);
- Supporting the Ethics and Compliance Unit in applying the survivor-centered approach in investigations into reported safeguarding/PSEA/IRC incidents/concerns ;
- Produce periodic activity reports and reports on safeguarding-related activities;
- Supporting the P&C department in the design of tools and other working documents;
- Collaborate closely with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor for Central & West Africa to promote a safeguarding culture and monitor progress towards minimum safeguarding standards for IRC Burkina Faso and contribute to knowledge development in the region;
- Support on special projects and other tasks assigned by your line manager.
Main working relationships:
- Hierarchical Supervisor: People & Culture Senior Coordinator
- Position under direct supervision: N/A
- Other contacts: Internal: IRC Staff External: IRC partners
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRED PROFILE
Education
- Bachelor’s degree (BAC+3) in Sociology (Gender & Development), Social Work, Law or any other relevant degree.
Experiences, Technical Skills & Personal Aptitudes
- Have at least 2 years of professional experience in a similar position relating to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child protection, gender, diversity and inclusion, protection or safeguarding with a national, international NGO or a United Nations agency;
- Previous experience in conducting training/capacity building with strong communication skills;
- Direct or indirect experience of the practice of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults or PSEA;
- Knowledge of the legal context and socio-cultural norms and practices of Burkina Faso, as well as the challenges of application in the context of humanitarian intervention;
- Good communication and report-writing skills are essential;
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with team members;
- Ability to handle delicate situations with diplomacy and confidentiality;
- Skills in making decisions on complex issues whenever necessary;
- Commitment to upholding and modeling the core values of IRC (the IRC method), demonstrating high standards of ethics and integrity;
- Experience working collaboratively and/or advocating with other sectors and teams;
- Knowledge of risk management – identification, assessment, analysis and management of safeguarding-related risks including Sexual Abuse and Exploitation;
- Ability to travel to other IRC field sites and field project sites to promote awareness of the safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct;
- Excellent command of computer tools, in particular the Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
- Fluency in spoken and written French, knowledge of English is an asset.
- Motivated, very responsible, punctual, flexible, culturally sensitive;
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Professional Standards : The IRC and its staff must adhere to the values and principles set out in the ‘IRC Way’ professional code of conduct. These values are integrity, service, equality, and accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC implements and enforces, among other things, policies on beneficiary protection from exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding, combating workplace harassment, fiscal integrity, and combating retaliation. All employees are required to be familiar with and respect these policies.